Fall 2012 semester has started.

After years and years of taking classes, it is finally nice to not have to worry about scheduling. No scheduling of the classes. No scheduling of my work hours to make up the time I miss for being in class. No scheduling around classes to make sure I make my kids' events.

I know I graduated in May but it really didn't seem official until I didn't have to register and attend class this week. In fact, I still can't believe I am done.

I don't feel any different. I thought it would be like having my cherry popped and I'd feel different. I don't though. I just feel like I have more time to do absolutely nothing of worth now.

Weird!

Allegation of Cheating

The title of this post was in the subject line of an email I got today from my professor for my last final yesterday. Apparently, a couple of members of the the negotiation group I was in came forward to report that a few other team members had in there possession some information that they were not "technically" supposed to be privy to.

I don't understand why any of my classmates would feel the need to have an advantage in this class. It's not that hard and not to knock the professor, who just happens to be a close friend of mine, but the class was a cinch and one of my easiest I've ever taken! We had one test over a book that was like 80 pages long and that was just to be sure we were reading the book. The rest of the work was in-class (sometimes longer or after-class) negotiations. As long as we attended class and participated in the negotiations and general class discussions, we were golden with at minimum an A-. These kids were actually worried about the final. I was shocked and amused. I got the final case information about two hours before the final. I printed it. Read it. Highlighted some things and came to a conclusion to what I thought we should look for as part of our team and where we could concede. I actually wanted to play hard ball with the other groups because this isn't real life. This classroom negotiations and the point is not to have an agreement all the time. The class room is where you can fail in the negotiation process whereas real life is not.

So, these overachievers and worry-warts, Googled and found some 14-page 'paper' that talked about our specific case and even gave the points that the other groups would be looking for. Was this cheating? In my opinion, yes. One team member found this document and forwarded it to the rest of the group. She actually read it and mentioned the specific page where the points for each group was located. I clicked on it, saw it was fourteen pages long, and immediately closed it. There was no way in hell I was going to read fourteen pages of something that may not even benefit me. Besides the fact that I really didn't give a shit if I got an A on the final. My goal was to pass, which is a D-, and that was all I needed to complete my final class/semester. Don't ever call me an overachiever in the classroom! I was done last semester in my mind so the least I could work to achieve passing was the best I wanted to do.

The Internet is a powerful tool. You can find just about anything that references part or all of your search. The kids of this generation and the past couple are used to having this information at the touch of a button. They are spoiled...in more ways than one. They feel that an A- is worse than an A. I guess in the minute sense of the grades, yes, one is better than the other. But is there really much difference between a 3.7 and a 4.0? If you round to the nearest whole number they are equal. If you see an A for one student and an A- for another, does that mean student A is smarter than student A-? Is there much of a difference between an A- and a B+ or a 3.7 versus a 3.3? Granted rounding to the nearest whole number makes the two look different. But...an A- is the bottom of the 'A' barrel whereas a B+ is the top of the 'B' barrel.

I know. I know. We can throw in the wrench that some students need to maintain a specific GPA to continue to get their grants, awards, or scholarships. Let's just keep it simple!

So, the originator of the email came forward after the professor's email. She took full responsibility. A little while later the prof sends and email and it seems that two other students were "caught." I don't know if the prof is going to really go forward with this but we'll see. Not my problem.

I just know that once again something, anything, could happen to fuck up my graduation!

I am done with college!

Had my last final today. Now all I have to wait for this grade to be posted...if it's passing and I don't care if it's a D-, which I know it won't be but you get my point of passing is passing for me. Graduation is this Saturday and then I'm OFFICIALLY done! I will have the graduation ceremony behind me, diploma in hand, and party to follow.

Adding to the awesomeness of finally being done is I received a Staff Recognition Award from my work. I got an awesome little plaque thingy, a certificate of some kind since I haven't actually opened it yet, but most importantly I received a check for $1,000! What to do with it who knows? Blow it on something totally frivolous and fun or put it towards something responsible? It's not like it was expected money but that's where keeping it or blowing it could make the difference. Decisions...decisions.

Then this afternoon around 3 p.m. my office threw a small congratulations party for me with just a few select employees that appreciate me and my work...at least I think they do. Okay, I really don't care but the effort is still a nice gesture on their part. :-)

Finally, I is a gradjewatt! Now what...?

Almost there...almost there...

Today was my last official class day of my undergraduate career. Now it's finals weeks. I have one next week then one the following week and then finally graduation day! I CANNOT WAIT! As I think I've posted plenty of times, it's been a long, LONG journey!

I look forward to sleeping in because I will no longer have to go into work early to make up the time I'm in class. I look forward to not having to slightly stress about the assignment/homework that's due.

I wish I would have an entire summer off like most "normal" undergraduates but it's not going to happen for someone at my age! I do have three weeks off planned during the summer but that's based on vacation time earned from my job and not just for being done with schooling.

What does the future old for me next? I'm still going to work. I'm still going to be a husband and father. I just have a degree now. I'd like to change careers but I'm not leaving my current employment until I know what plans my children have for college. I wouldn't mind remaining working at my college job but not in the same position. I would like to move to another position on campus but it'll have to be a good opportunity for me to give up the semi-cush job I currently have. I'm just done with information technology and would like to expand my knowledge and experience as much as possible before I hit mid-century age!

How time has flown by...

In a little over a week, it'll be spring break for the undergraduate classes. I'm not for certain but I think this means that basically half the spring semester will be completed.

I briefly attended the graduation fair last week. I really don't need anything other than the cap and gown. Announcements are too damn expensive through the campus or the campus vendor. I'm not having my purchases funded by a rich mother and/or father. I don't need a year book and I don't need a class ring. If the ring wasn't ringing up to the tune of about $800 I wouldn't mind getting one but that's three car payments for me. I'd much rather be three car payments down than owe $800 more to some other business!

Anyway, I was able to go to a website and order by cap and gown. It's interesting how they ask for my height and weight to order my cap and gown. I guess they have some formula that translates to sizes of S, M, L, XL, etc. based on your height/weight combination. We'll have to see when I pick them up on May 5^th.

So, here's to two and a half months left of my long, tenuous journey.

6 Days!

That's how long I have until I start my final semester of college. In one long-feeling semester, I will be a college graduate with a BBA in Management with a minor in Photography!

That's right bitches! Read it and weep! I know I am. I started, reluctantly mind you, this journey in August 1989. Twenty-two years later, this journey will come to an end. **fingers crossed**

Now, it hasn't been 22 consecutive years. Occasionally, I only took one class but mostly I tried to take at least two since starting working full time. Before full-time employment, I would register for 12 hours and drop at least half. Then there was the five-year break I took while the wife completed a Master's and then Ph.D. So, a maximum of 17 years of school but 22 years for completion.

So, briefly, what have I learned from this journey (even though it's not completely over yet)?

Just a few things for now...in no particular order:

• If you are going to college, I recommend doing it right after high school graduation. I couldn't wait to be done with "required" school and just be "free." I knew I wasn't college bound because we were poor but my mom made me take classes because she wanted better for me and they wanted me as a tax break. LOL! Anyway, the longer you wait to return the harder it will be to do so. If there is even an inkling that you want a college degree, take classes as soon as possible after high school because life will take the control and never let go!
• If you have to attend a community college because of finances, make sure you research them well see what kind classes will transfer to whatever four-year college you anticipate attending. Tarrant County College has a very good relationship with Texas public colleges like UT Ausin, UT Arlington and UT Dallas. Maybe not all but more will transfer than going to the likes of a private school. I used the exact same government book at TCJC, now TCC, years ago that a coworker was using for a government class at UT Arlington. I paid significantly less for it and it would have transferred with no problem. I transferred to a private school with 57 hours and they took only like half. A few of the courses they didn't take, I retook and they were almost exactly the same...I never bought the book and passed the course and tests with an 'A.' The private school just thought their classes were better for some reason.
• Tuition is expensive for four-year colleges no matter if it's public or private. If you are not rich or the family isn't rich, you might look into working at a university full time. Many universities provide a free tuition benefit to make up for the lower university salary compared to what you could possible make in the 'real world.' Take advantage of it. I have. I'm going to get a $100K degree for free...the exception is for class fees and books but when tuition is like $5,000 and books are like $300, I'll take books.
• College really doesn't prepare an individual for the world. Maybe degrees in Painting, Art History, Dance, English and such but not degrees like Accounting, Marketing, or Information Technology Operations Management. Now, the latter probably does give you knowledge about those fields and some working skills to enter but the individual will learn on-the-job. Many of my young classmates who I have seen since they've graduated said such things. They actually learn their jobs when they get the job. Now, I'm sure a college degree makes the individual a well-rounded, educated person but actual job preparation...maybe not so much. Also, I work in the graduate admissions office and I see the salaries of the applicants who went straight to college and graduated in four years. These people busted their asses in school and now work and they make the same money as I do without a college degree. I'm not saying there aren't those that make a whole hell of a lot more but when 75% of the applicants are college graduates in Accounting, ITOM, Marketing and even Finance are only making $40yr-$60k/yr and are the same age as I, I don't know if that is a good return on their initial investment of college. And of course, that's excluding any outside reasons why these people are making so little like their own laziness or whatever.

  Long story short, I guess being in class with wet-behind-the-ears kids while I've been in the world gives me a perspective that they and others their age in class don't see. They haven't been jaded by management in the corporate world. They haven't really experienced ANYTHING that is discussed as examples in class. It's all theory to them and theory is almost never reality.

I'm sure there are other things I've learned but since I've been typing this while at work, I'd better get back to work.

∞
That's all I got to say about that!
 

Revisited: Is A College Degree Worth It?

I have previously written about this topic here.

A few days later I ran across this story but just now had time to write about it. I think it's got some very valid points from the horses' mouth (the actual graduates)!

∞
That's all I got to say about that!
 

Is an undergraduate college degree worth it?

I haven't consistently written about my pain and suffering of obtaining my undergraduate degree while working full-time and being a wonderful husband and great parent of two. I have a short attention span most of the time and I get misdirected to other things in the middle of ongoing things and then it's just a cluster fuck of things. Before I know it, I've lost track of anything and everything I wanted to say, write, or do and I move on until I can remember them later on. If I could stay on track and compile my thoughts in one cohesive linear direction, this blog would be much longer and each day's postings would be enormously long or many or both.

With that being expressed, I have come to the conclusion that I should (will) complete my long, tenuous journey of obtaining my undegraduate degree from a well-known school. If all goes well, May 2012 will be my graduation month/year. {fingers crossed}

I'd like to start with a little pre-journey background. I didn't grow up with parents that made enough money for us to live comfortably. At times, my parents struggled to make ends meet. I shared a roughly 20' x 20' room with my brother up until I was in 10^th or 11^the grade which is when he moved out. There were three boys in my parents 3-bedroom house since I was in elementary school because my older four siblings were already on their own by the time I was in 3^rd.

Most of my clothes, excluding underwear, came from hand-me-downs or the second-hand store (if it's still there we visited the D.A.V.- Disabled American Veteran's store in Irving, TX). The bicycle I learned to ride a bike on was my oldest sister's—yes, a girl's bike—who is fifteen years older than me. I learned to ride it at the age of five but I was unable to sit on the seat. Therefore, I had to "stand" the entire time while pedaling and the handle bars were at a height above my head where I looked like I was stretching more than I was riding a bike. Damn good thing it WAS a girl's bike!

Anyway, point is that I didn't expect to go to college. Times were tough most of my childhood and money was tight. I was (am) a smart kid but I knew my parents couldn't afford it and so I didn't ever prepare to attend or think about college. I didn't ask for brochures or any information from colleges. I conceded/expected the fact that I would work after high school and see what the future brought. Neither of my parents went to college. One or two of my siblings took a class here and there from Tarrant County Junior College (now TCC). I was not groomed for continued education.

So anyhow, I started this journey in the fall of 1989 at the ripe old age of 18. I didn't start this journey willingly. My mom told me I had to enroll in college (TCJC) in the fall after my high school graduation because they needed to keep health insurance on me and to claim me on their taxes. I didn't really have a job lined up but was actively looking while also trying to enjoy my summer of fun and freedom from no longer having to returned to "required" schooling.

I enrolled in twelve hours at TCJC for full-time status for a few semesters/years and before or on the drop date, I'd drop at least half of the classes because I was skipping them. I look bad now and regret not being more respectful of my mom's hard-earned money to pay for my classes but I was younger and dumber at the time. I looked at it as I didn't like the damn classes anyway and my mom was forcing me to take them. I particularly disliked taking the GEC classes because if it wasn't specific to what I wanted to do, like technology or whatever, I felt that classes like Human Relations and Rhetoric were total bullshit and a waste of money. I look back now and I wasted the money by not just getting a passing grade in all the classes instead of dropping them. I spent a lot of time in the game room playing fuseball, ping pong and pool. I also slept a lot in the lounge area when I should have been in class. College was not a motivator for me. It never has been and still really isn't.

I got me a full-time job making decent money (at the time it was decent). I worked 7am to 4pm and had my afternoons and evenings to just hang out, relax, and have fun. A few years of full-time work, I started taking an evening class each fall and spring semester because my company would reimburse me if I passed with a C+. I took classes I wanted to take like Pascal and C programming as well as some other techie classes. It wasn't the funnest but my wife (girlfriend at the time) was very persistent in what she thought I should do with my life. It really came down to she was slightly embarrassed around her friends and family to be dating me because I had no real college aspirations and she was going to a very expensive private college and she had goals and plans.

Longer story short, I got a job at a college and they have tuition benefits. They pay up front though unlike my previous job but they don't cover books and fees. That's okay when the tuition is like $8k-$10k for two classes, I think I'm better off paying $300 for books and fees. It still sucks but it's better than the alternative. Between work and family time, I have taken six hours a semester (FL/SP/SU) for quite a while. My work covers 18 hours and I'm not paying for more nor am I taking more than two classes a term because it's a lot for me to take on with family, work, school and personal sanity time. Focus is still hard for me because when it comes to family, fun or a 5-page paper, family first then fun rules out and then I'm pulling an all-nighter to finish the paper or study for an exam. It's not fun.

So, I've got 13 hours left. I'm taken three for the first summer term and then six in Fall 2011 and six in Spring 2012. Then finally (hopefully) graduation in May 2012 with a BBA and a minor in photography. Look at me the previous underachiever achieving a major and a minor.

Now the point of my title. I work in an MBA office and I see and process applications for our program every day. These applicants fill out their current employer and salary. All these people have already received their undergraduate degree from some institution. Many are at least 28 years of age but can range from 26 to 36 years old. If we go with those that are 30-36 and U.S. citizens, many of them have salaries that are equal to mine give or take a couple of thousand dollars.

Granted, I didn't start at what I make now but they spent minimum four years in undergraduate college and something like $60k-$80k in tuition to work at a job making the same money as I am without a completed college education. Of course, they have the education and potential to make more...blah, blah, blah...but they don't right now. Not to mention that I work for a university and I knew going in that it wasn't about the money I could make. It was about the sanity and peace of mind of not working in the crazy-ass high-pressure corporate world anymore and to get my tuition benefits for me, my wife and my kids.

My point comes down to this. Is it worth wasting four years of life (excluding the frat parties, panty raids and other extracurricular activities) and being in debt for paying the college tuition (unless your parents are rich) to obtain a job that starts out at, say, $32,000/year? Years ago I started at $26,000/yr at a previous employer working in the mail room. I progressed to a promotion in a few years making $30,000/yr which was equal to those the company was hiring straight out of college at the time. The college graduate didn't do the job any better than I did and in fact many did worse. So, who was better or worse off?

Again, society says a college education is important and for some reason people still believe that a college grad will do a better job than a high school grad. To that I say, "Bullshit." It all comes down to the capabilities of the applicant/employee...but again, the decision makers say differently. I just see that an accounting major learns theory in college and learns real life on the job. A competent non-college worker learns on the job and didn't waste time in class theory. Is one the college grad better, worth more? I think not but the higher-ups think differently. Would you trust a non-college educated real estate agent that learned on the job from a mentor and works in the actual business or a college graduate that just graduated with a major in real estate?

I guess there's an argument for both sides. I tell my kids that I will support them in whatever they want. I don't think a college degree is necessary overall but I think it is necessary for them just because of the biases that people have against non-college grads versus college grads. It isn't the end all be all but it doesn't hurt either, I guess.

Anyway, that's my random opinion of the day. You can find different opinions on whether or not a degree is worth the time and money by a Google search, as I did. In fact, I will share a couple here and here.

Oh yeah, I saw an article somewhere that said the MBA is now considered more like an undergraduate degree because everyone's got one. I think that's a remark stating that the undergraduate degree has lost its clout and the MBA is following suit. What's next, everyone needs a Ph.D.?

UPDATE 6/2/11: It's funny sometimes how when you write or talk about something that there is someone somewhere that had a similar idea but on a bigger platform. I saw an article here that has a few theories on the worth of college. It was an interesting read although I think it misses some con-college points. Still worth a read though.

This is what "dumbass" looks like

Below is a picture of a GMAT score. If you don't know what a GMAT is, you can Google it. Essentially though, it is a test to show what kind of graduate student you could/should be (typically for the MBA—Master's in Business Administration) like the SAT/ACT/GRE/LSAT/MCAT tests and etc. do for their particular field in which they apply.

The GMAT has a maximum score of 800. The GMAT score captured below is a 200. Now if you look at it in the most simplistic of terms...a 100% would be 800, 75% would be 600, 50% would be 400 and 25% would be 200. There are other scores besides these but remember this is for simplistic reasons. So, of all the percentages listed, which do you think is (obviously) passing? What's amazing is that people will ask why their 600 isn't competitive. What's doubly amazing is that people will ask why their 550, 500, 400, 300, and yes, even 200 isn't competitive. They also say that a 200 doesn't reflect the real person they are. That they don't test well. What a lame excuse!

Let me put it into perspective some more. You basically can get a 200 on the GMAT just for showing up and signing your name to the paper. I've never seen a published score below 200 and I've work with an MBA program for 10+ years. I am led to believe that's because 200 is the lowest as seen in the percentile given for the related 200, which is 0%. You know what that means? It means that you did better than 0% of other test takers. If a 200 is 0% then I'm on par with saying that a score below 200 is not given. Therefore, showing up and putting your name down gets you an automatic 200 points.

Next best question from a 200-point test taker is, can I get scholarship? Yeah buddy. We'll invest in you as a future business leader...NOT!

Case study discussion in my Leadership & Culture class (Pt 1)

I am taking a Leadership & Culture class this semester. It's a required core course for my management major. The professor is teaching this for the first time on our campus although he's taught it before. I was a little hesitant to take the class (although I have to eventually to graduate) because I did not know what to expect of the class and professor. Without going into further detail and losing the point of my post, I must say that I have thoroughly enjoyed this professor and the school would do the students a disservice by not keeping him around.

Now, he sent us a case from Darden as an introduction to our discussion of ethics. The case starts like this:

You are a senior executive in the sales department of a large manufacturing company. A competitor’s technological innovation has disrupted your company’s production and has plunged profits into the red for the last three quarters. Your boss has made it very clear that if you do not make your profit projections for this quarter, you will be out of a job. One of your staff members makes a suggestion to you about investing in new equipment to better monitor and service clients. After some research you realize that this investment, if enacted quickly, could increase sales and help the overall health of the company. Each quarter that you wait to implement this equipment will reduce its positive impact, but investing now will cause you to miss your profit projections and lose your job. What do you do?

It goes on to say

Most people have one of two reactions after reading a case like the one above. Either they have a strong moral intuition toward one of the options, or they experience conflicting moral intuitions and cannot decide between the two. Moral intuitions or sentiments (as Adam Smith called them) are our gut reactions to a situation as to what is right or wrong. They are developed over time from our past experiences and social interactions. We may regret decisions that are based just on moral intuition when we find they missed the mark. It is only when we do the hard work of analyzing a case and meshing intuition with reason that we can be confident that we are making better choices. This is because our intuitions are determined by past experiences, which may be of little help in new moral dilemmas. In addition, apart from following the stronger moral intuition, we cannot decide between two conflicting intuitions without a standard or some criteria for what is better or worse. In both of these cases, we need to turn to ethics.

So, what would you do?

A few of the kids said they would invest in the new equipment and "hope" that the boss would see that you have made a good decision and keep you around. Others said they would invest in the new equipment and plead their case with the boss to keep them around. These kids are so ignorant and lost to the realities of the real business world.

My response: I do not invest in the new equipment. My efforts are only recognized if I make my numbers not if I show improvement.

My reasoning based on the given/known facts of the case: It's me, the boss, the company and my impending doom or firing from the company:

• Sometimes it's about self-preservation. I would use the last quarter I have with the company to find a job and make sure I have a plan/job to maintain my income after being let go by this company.
• Why did it take three quarters for the boss to react to a competitor? Whose fault is it really, mine, my bosses or higher? Yet, I'm the one getting the shaft. Great company to work for!
• I am getting fired no matter what if I don't hit my numbers. So, investing in the new equipment improves the numbers but does not make me reach my numbers. This benefits the company but it does nothing for extending my career with the company.
• The company didn't take into consideration the importance of performance maintenance. I've missed my numbers for three quarters and just now at the start of the fourth does the boss give a crap about my work? I don't expect to be micromanaged but if I'm liable for missing my numbers so should my boss.
• My boss not looking into performance numbers failures sooner makes me wonder what kind of boss/company I was working for to begin with. If the numbers were more important until someone complained to him, is this who I want to work under anyway?
• If the company isn't going to invest in me to help me better the company as well as better myself, why would I invest in the equipment and better the company in the long run when I will no longer be with the company?

I guess that's a long enough list.

The professor says, "Really?"

I say, "Yes, based on the minimal information we are given in the case."

He says, "What about the group that works under you? Their kids? Others in the company and their kids?"

I say, "I would still NOT invest in the equipment. I'm bitter towards the boss and the company. I would not do it out of spite. As for 'the others,' unless I worked closely with them I have no real relationship with them and therefore less concern for them. It's my ass on the line and the company will probably continue after I'm gone! As far as anyone that worked under me, I would decide who would be the best fit to replace me and lead the group. I would tell him to bring the idea of investing in the equipment to the boss. That way he'd look like a savior with a fresh idea. He'll get promoted and the team will be okay. I would not invest my time and effort knowing that my situation would finalize in my dismissal."

He says, "Hm. Interesting? Anyone else?"

The young-uns in the class stuck with their "the boss will see I tried and reward me with retaining my employment." Or "there has to be a way to talk to the boss and keep my job."

Clouded their judgment is. In the ways of corporate America, untrained they are.

There's a bit more so I'll end for now since this post is lengthy.

In the news 02/25/2011

Article headline from the Dallas News states:

Cowboys running back Marion Barber donates $500,000 worth of computers to Dallas ISD high schools

Click here for article while it lasts.

I read this article and I give props to Marion Barber for giving back to a few schools in the Dallas ISD.

I think all high-paid athletes should give back. They are making millions and with all these budget cuts and the down economy every amount, especially $500k, helps.

It's also the right thing to do when it's these communities that are helping to pay their salaries. These children's parents are probably fan(atics) that pay top dollar to attend the football games and frivolous events with their family and friends. They should be acknowledged and rewarded in some way.

Anyway, big high five to Marion, for his donation could not have come at a better time with the anticipated education budget cuts. Oh yeah and it says that Marion approached the principal of one of the schools to see what he can do.

BIG HIGH FIVE TO BARBER!

25th Anniversary of the Challenger tragedy

So, the word about town is it's the 25^th anniversary of the Challenger explosion. Click here for a good article with pics and vids over at Gizmodo.

I remember exactly where I was when it happened. I was in 3^rd period science class in 9^th grade.

I remember my teacher, Mrs. Allen, wheeling in the TV cart—there weren't laptops or video projectors available at the time. My science teacher was so excited that she wanted all 20 of us to be quiet when they weren't really saying anything on the TV that was important.

I remember the teacher in the next class came over to watch as well, bringing his students into our already crowded classroom. Now there were around 40 of us.

I remember being pretty interested in the launch. Not because I was a space fanatic but just because I always wanted to fly and space launch was pretty close and probably fantastic in itself. I also just like seeing rockets launch. I'm a boy. What else do we care about at that age but electronics, sports and planes/rockets (I liked girls too but that's another story).

I remember the count down.

I remember it starting to lift off.

I remember the flames and all the smoke coming out of the rockets.

I remember how cool it looked on the 27-inch tube TV.

I remember it getting higher and higher.

I remember seeing this quick, smokey explosion thinking this was when the booster rockets separated.

I remember seeing the two booster rockets bow away from the cloud of smoke between them and start to wiggle into their own random flight pattern.

I remember not seeing the shuttle continue its ascent.

I remember my teacher looking at the other teacher wondering what had happened. Both were confused.

I remember silence in the classroom. Then...

I remember the commentator saying something like, "Where is the Challenger?" and "They seemed to have lost contact with the Challenger" and then after a few minutes or ten, the realization happened. NASA reports that the Challenger space shuttle has exploded and all crew members have perished.

I remember Mrs. Allen crying, subtly at first and then somewhat hysterically. She bolted out the classroom door into the hall and continued to cry.

I remember Mrs. Allen composing herself and then wheeling the TV cart back out to the hall and into another room where she and a few other teachers continued to watch the drama. I think it was smart of her to do this for the students and her as well.

I remember going home later in the day and knowing what had transpired but it really not affecting me personally. I knew it was tragic. I knew it was historical. But what did a 14-yr-old boy really care about in the world?

As a mature adult, I look back and I feel for the families of the crew. I understand this now as I have a family of my own that I care for and raise. I also see that if I was a kid and my mother/father had the opportunity to go into space it would be the fucking coolest thing EVER! In fact as a parent, if my child had that opportunity, it would still be the fucking coolest thing but I would worry in the back of my mind.

So, as an old guy, I say to those young and old: Remember the events in your life directly and indirectly, big and small, because one day you will say, "That was the fucking coolest thing...EVER!"

I heart boobies

I really, really...REALLY do. But this isn't about me loving boobies, although in case I haven't mentioned it, I really do!

There's controversy brewing in the school districts. Apparently this is the slogan of The Keep A Breast Foundation.

It's a great slogan. But I think I should sue them for copyright infringement because I believe I coined this first a long, long time ago.

You can Google the slogan and you will find any number of stories about the controversies the bracelets and T-shirts with the slogan have stirred.

I don't have a problem with the slogan. I don't have a problem with the purpose. I don't have a problem with the college students wearing them to school.

I do think it's inappropriate for high school students and younger to promote the slogan visibly while in and around school grounds.

The many parents that are complaining about the office visit their kids have had to make are just ignorant fucks...pardon my French.

It's not about the cause the items are promoting. Most children (at least 18 and under) are not capable of handling the slogan in a proper context. Hell, I'm way over 18 and I joked about the slogan with my wife and some friends when I saw it in the paper. It's what "boys" do. You mention anything close to humanly parts or bodily noises and we lose any cool demeanor we may have had. Blame genetics.

It's great to get the word out about breast cancer or cancer awareness in general but there are places for certain forms of support. Having clothing or wrist bands that say "Save the Ta Tas" or "I [heart] boobies" is not the slogan our adolescent and younger children need to be flashing at school. If it said "Support breast cancer," I think that's different because it references something specific or a specific type of cancer. I too would complain to the school if they sent my kid to the office for that slogan. But slangs on slogans are not worth the fight. Time, money and effort is better fought on the actual issue...and that's [breast] cancer!

How to get a raise Hinojosa style

Follow the steps of Dr. Michael Hinojosa, Dallas ISD superintendent:

1. Say you want to stay in your current position
2. Say you are not looking for another job
3. Interview for another job
4. Other job says you are one of their top candidates
5. Say you really aren't looking to move but this opportunity "just came up"
6. Continue to say you'll stay while waiting to see if the other job offers you something
7. Have your current employer panic and scramble to make offers to keep you
8. Say you still aren't looking to leave
9. Tentatively agree to contract extension aka "raise"
10. Other job offers position to someone else
11. Deny that you seeked out the job but it was an opportunity you couldn't "pass up"
12. Say you can't wait to get back on track in your current job and you will mend the fences you burned in looking for another job
13. Take the "raise" and continue to seek other opportunities as the "come up"

A man after my own heart. I don't blame him. I've done it. We've all done it. But it makes good gossip in Big D.

Click here for article while it lasts.

I think I'm tired of working and going to school

I'm sure I've posted about it before but I'm going to be like the 40-yr-old undergraduate graduate. I've got something like 24-28 hours left for my BBA. If I could go full time, I would be done in a year but I work full time so that means it will take me approximately another two years. I don't mind really.

What I do mind is that I do not have the "unlimited" freedom I would like. I quote unlimited because even without school I wouldn't have fully unlimited because I have responsibilities like kids, wife, car payments, rent, etc. I just would like the freedom to say, "Today, I feel like just sitting at my patio table to enjoy the wonderfully cool and refreshing weather we are having in Dallas the past few days," and not worry about having to read a chapter (which I usually push off anyway), study for an exam or take my B&W photographs for my class critique.

I'm distracted easily as it is but pushing off what I need to get done for work takes a toll on my later. My fault, yes, but still not fun.

Sometimes I think to myself how awesome it would be just to be an employee. To work from 8:30am to 5:00pm and be done with my required thinking. I want to enjoy the lazy moments with my wife and kids. I want to randomly walk around the neighborhood with my dog and not care that I am walking for an hour instead of 30 minutes.

It was so nice last week. I skipped class (except for Monday, and not totally skipping because I was the only one in the office to hold down the fort and Wednesday's class was a work day) and it felt fantastic! Of course, the worries I have now are a test next week in one class and a photo critique in the other. I have read one chapter for the test and will read the other tonight (maybe) but I am still lost on a theme for my photography class. I have some ideas but then I shelf them because it requires too much work in the sense that I have to go somewhere, I have to get people to help out, and some background setting is usually needed. Hopefully, I'll come up with something...hopefully, because I HAVE TO!

Shopping for school clothes sucks

I stand here in Aeropostle waiting for the wife and kids to find jeans for the oldest. It's "buy one get one on jeans"...if you didn't know when you walk in you will definitely know right after because the salesperson will tell you and every other person that walks through the door.

It's a mad house! The week before school starts is NOT the time to shop.

I am watching, gawking at people...shoppers...and they are rude! They unfold and disorganize the racks and shelves when the sales girl is right there for assistance. I can see the sales girl's frustration as she refolds another shirt and then another jeans, one after the other. Sure it's their job but is minimum wage really worth that shit? I guess there is a lot of downtime throughout the year so it may not be that bad...but still.

I guess I just am starting to hate people...rude, insensitive people who think they are the ONLY center of attention.

I digress!


Sent on the Super Jay Network from Super Jay's BlackBerry®

Atlas Shrugged...a movie??

I saw a post at GeekTyrant in regards to the book Atlas Shrugged becoming a movie.

I recall this book being assigned to read in my 9^th grade economics class. The paperback was roughly measured like a 5x7 and at least two inches thick. I think it was something like 1100+ pages of smaller-than-normal print. I remember the teacher assigning pages/chapters for reading at the first of the year and said we'd have pop quizzes on what was read. I think the first quiz had a class average of 20%. The second and third quizzes were about the same. Out of frustration the teacher told us "C'mon guys! You really need to be reading this!" The problem is that she already had the reading and quizzes as a low percentage of the overall grade. So, getting a 20% average on the quizzes would only affect like 5% of the overall class grade.

Her little pep talk still didn't affect the majority of the class. The nerdy ones (3 out of 30 students) remained diligent in their reading and quiz taking. The slackers, me included, continued with not reading and getting bad quiz grades. Eventually, she said that she'd just make the reading of Atlas Shrugged extra credit. So, those that already did the reading benefited more and those that didn't read, didn't have to worry about failing the quizzes.

Other than my own personal story of how boring the beginning of the book was, my only other memory is the characters of John Galt and Taggart (I don't remember which Taggart, just the last name).

So, anyway, long story short. I have no effing idea how this is going to become a movie when at least 27 people (I'm sure more since she taught more than one economic class) in the 80s couldn't keep interest in this boring novel! It's not like it's The Great Gatsby!

Spring 2010 term is done...almost

I have one more thing to do for my Black & White Photography I course and I'll be officially complete with the Spring 2010 term. Summer school, if my class makes, here I come in 30 days.

I have my final critique (crit for short for you artsy people in the know) today at 3 p.m. It's not just mine but the whole class will be presenting their final prints, no more than 10 and no more than 30. I originally was thinking I might do a number somewhere in the middle, around 14-18, but after procrastinating and paying another $30 for a new packet of photo print paper I decided to go with the minimum. I ended up doing 11 but a couple are prints that I already had done previously.

We just didn't have to have prints this time, though. We had to purchase museum (rag) board for our "presentation." We could have 2-ply or 4-ply or higher if we wanted but the cost increases by the ply and the size. I ended up getting the 2-ply 8x10 and then some. It was something like $10 for a 25-pk but you get a little discount if you by more quantities. When I ordered the supplies, he hadn't shared yet on what color he recommended. I wanted to make sure I had the board because of my procrastination. I ordered two 25-packs of white, antique white, and black. I figured whichever color he didn't prefer I would just use for my own personal photos if I wanted to mount them or whatever. My total cost was something like $50 so it's not like I was out a lot of money and I have plans to use what I have left...for something, anything.

I went into the lab Saturday morning to develop my B&W roll of film. I kinked it near the end so a couple of my frames were damaged but luckily they weren't good pictures to begin with. I recommend using a roll of 16 or 24 exposures. Trying to put a roll of 36 exposures onto the reel that goes into the developer tank was easy to begin with but it started getting tricky near the end. I'm not sure if it's because the reel isn't really built for that long of a film roll or what because you have to get it on the reel in pitch dark. So, I can't see what the issue is until I'm done developing it but by that time I forget about checking because it takes about 30 minutes to develop the film. After developing, I put it in the drying closet - a closet to let film sort of drip dry but no actual "drying" done. The professor recommends a drying period of one hour although it probably doesn't actually take that long. I decided it was too nice of a day to spend in the lab so I left intending to return later that evening or the next morning.

Returning Saturday night didn't happen. Sunday morning didn't happen either.

Sunday afternoon I finally get to the lab to make some prints. I took the kids and their cousin with me to get them out of the house. They also helped develop some of the prints after I used the enlarger. They definitely helped speed up the process. I could keep making prints while they were running them through the developer, stop bath, fixer and then the wash. They like seeing the "magic" happen too.

Anyway, 17 prints later (some were dupes of me trying to get the exposure time right for some of the prints) and I was ready to leave for home after about 2 1/2 hours. I missed my roller hockey game. It was at 6 p.m. but I didn't get home from printing until about 5:30 p.m. Not enough time to get home, get ready for hockey and then get there by 6 p.m.

So, I'll be on my way to class in about an hour to leave my prints for my final grade. I think they look pretty good. They good use a little more tweaking here and there but the paper isn't cheap nor is my time. Maybe I'll digitally capture a few and post them for all to view.

One more week of class

Today is a "working day" for my B&W photography class. What does that mean..to me?  A get to go home early day!

I start work at 8am and work through my lunch so I can take my two classes during the day (office hours). Do I feel bad that I'm actually going home? Fuck no! The job bitches can kiss my ass. I put in my "make-up" time, I'm damn sure going to take the time off!

Amen, brahda! Speak the truth!

Anyway, I have about a week left of the spring term. I then have about a month before the summer one term begins. Summer one will be 27 straight days - excluding weekends - of class. Good times ahead!

Sent on the Super Jay Network from Super Jay's BlackBerry®

Food, Inc [The Movie] (2008)

I just got an email from my Corporate Ethics and Social Responsibility class. Yep, the one I just did my presentation in yesterday.

He forwarded a link to a movie that will be playing on KERA Channel 13 (locally for Dallas) from 8-10pm tonight.

It's called Food, Inc (2008)...official web site here. The trailer looks pretty interesting. I think I may have to watch it...for brown-nosing and actual-learning purposes. I'm always inquisitive up until the day/time of actual execution. Things, more interesting ones, come up and I take the better option of the two, three or more.

In the end, after all the boasting and bragging, I'm sure I'll end up watching it just because I truly am curious AND I have no life...tonight!